President opens U.S. roads to Mexican trucks, buses

Associated Press

Published Thursday, November 28, 2002

WASHINGTON -- President Bush gave the go-ahead Wednesday for Mexican trucks to travel U.S. roads beyond commercial border zones where they have been restricted while inspection sites and new regulations were put in place.

The decision comes nearly a year after Bush said he wanted to allow Mexican trucks on U.S. roads, in compliance with a provision of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

The president "has made very clear we feel we have an important obligation to our neighbors to the south to live up to our international obligation and also have an important obligation to ensure American roads are safe and his action today takes both of those into account," said White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan.